Apparatus and method for controlling an inflatable cushion

Abstract

A control device for modifying the deployment characteristics of an inflatable cushion of an airbag module is disclosed herein, the control device having a releasable retention device releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; and a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system providing at least one vent opening in the inflatable cushion when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by an inflation gas.

1. A control device for modifying the deployment characteristics of an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, the control device comprising:
 a releasable retention device releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system providing at least one vent opening in the inflatable cushion when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by an inflation gas; 
 a pair of sealing members each being disposed over a respective opening in the inflatable cushion, each sealing member being configured for movement between a first sealing position wherein the sealing member covers the opening and essentially prevents fluid flow through the opening and a second open position wherein the sealing member is spaced away from the opening to provide a fluid path between the sealing member and the inflatable cushion; and 
 a connecting member secured to each of the pair of sealing members and the releasable retention device, the connecting member being configured to move the sealing members from the first sealing position towards the second open position when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 wherein the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion via a securement feature, wherein the releasable retention device is loop of material looped around the connecting member, the securement feature and the actuator, and wherein the actuator is configured to release the loop of material from the actuator thereby releasing the loop from the connecting member and the securement feature. 
 
     
     
       2. The control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the securement feature is a planar member having at least two edges secured to the first location at different positions in order to disperse a restraining force provided by the releasable retention device at the first location when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and the releasable retention device is secured to the securement feature and the actuator. 
     
     
       3. The control device as in  claim 1 , wherein each sealing member comprises:
 a first inner portion of material configured to have an outer periphery larger than the opening it is covering; 
 an outer member spaced from the first inner portion and secured to the inflatable cushion, the outer member surrounding the first inner portion and having an inner periphery larger than the outer periphery of the first inner portion; and 
 a plurality of connecting members each being spaced from each other and each having a portion connected to the outer member and the first inner portion to provide a plurality of vent openings through the sealing member. 
 
     
     
       4. The control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a pyrotechnic squib secured to an actuator housing; and 
 a pin member movably secured to the actuator housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the cord is secured to the actuator housing when the pin is in the first position and wherein the cord is released from the actuator housing when the pin is in the second position; and 
 wherein actuation of the pyrotechnic squib increases a fluid pressure within a chamber of the actuator housing in order to move the pin from the first position to the second position. 
 
     
     
       5. The control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first location is a forward leading portion of the inflatable cushion configured to interact with a torso of an occupant and wherein the at least one opening of the venting system is located at a side edge of the inflatable cushion remote from the leading edge. 
     
     
       6. The control device as in  claim 1 , wherein the first location is a forward leading portion of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
       7. An air bag module, comprising:
 a housing; 
 an inflatable cushion being configured for deployment from the housing; 
 an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion with an inflation gas, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion; 
 a releasable retention device being releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator secured to the housing at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system maintaining at least one vent of the inflatable cushion in an open position when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas; 
 a pair of sealing members each being disposed over a respective opening in the inflatable cushion, each sealing member being configured for movement between a first sealing position wherein the sealing member covers the opening and essentially prevents fluid flow through the opening and a second open position wherein the sealing member is spaced away from the opening to provide a fluid path between the sealing member and the inflatable cushion; and 
 a connecting member secured to each of the pair of sealing members and the releasable retention device, the connecting member being configured to move the sealing members from the first sealing position towards the second open position when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 wherein the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion via a securement feature, wherein the releasable retention device is loop of material looped around the connecting member, the securement feature and the actuator, and wherein the actuator is configured to release the loop of material from the actuator thereby releasing the loop from the connecting member and the securement feature. 
 
     
     
       8. The airbag module as in  claim 7 , wherein the securement feature is a planar member having at least two edges secured to the first location at different positions in order to disperse a restraining force provided by the releasable retention device at the first location when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and the releasable retention device is secured to the securement feature and the actuator and wherein the first location is a forward leading portion of the inflatable cushion configured to interact with a torso of an occupant and wherein the openings in the inflatable cushion are located at opposite sides of the inflatable cushion remote from the leading edge. 
     
     
       9. The airbag module as in  claim 7 , wherein each sealing member comprises:
 a first inner portion of material configured to have an outer periphery larger than the opening it is covering; 
 an outer member spaced from the first inner portion and secured to the inflatable cushion, the outer member surrounding the first inner portion and having an inner periphery larger than the outer periphery of the first inner portion; and 
 a plurality of connecting members each being spaced from each other and each having a portion connected to the outer member and the first inner portion to provide a plurality of vent openings through the sealing member. 
 
     
     
       10. The airbag module as in  claim 7 , wherein the pair of sealing members are each disposed on opposite sides of the inflatable cushion and wherein the first location is a forward leading portion of the inflatable cushion. 
     
     
       11. A control device for modifying the deployment characteristics of an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, the control device comprising:
 a releasable retention device releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system providing at least one vent opening in the inflatable cushion when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by an inflation gas; 
 a pair of sealing members each being disposed over a respective opening in the inflatable cushion, each sealing member being configured for movement between a first sealing position wherein the sealing member covers the opening and essentially prevents fluid flow through the opening and a second open position wherein the sealing member is spaced away from the opening to provide a fluid path between the sealing member and the inflatable cushion, each sealing member including a first inner portion of material, an outer member and a plurality of connecting members, the first inner portion of material configured to have an outer periphery larger than the opening it is covering, the outer member spaced from the first inner portion and secured to the inflatable cushion, the outer member surrounding the first inner portion and having an inner periphery larger than the outer periphery of the first inner portion, the plurality of connecting members each being spaced from each other and each having a portion connected to the outer member and the first inner portion to provide a plurality of vent openings through the sealing member; and 
 a connecting member secured to each of the pair of sealing members and the releasable retention device, the connecting member being configured to move the sealing members from the first sealing position towards the second open position when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 wherein the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion via a securement feature. 
 
     
     
       12. An air bag module, comprising:
 a housing; 
 an inflatable cushion being configured for deployment from the housing; 
 an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion with an inflation gas, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion; 
 a releasable retention device being releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator secured to the housing at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; 
 a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system maintaining at least one vent of the inflatable cushion in an open position when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas; 
 a pair of sealing members each being disposed over a respective opening in the inflatable cushion, each sealing member being configured for movement between a first sealing position wherein the sealing member covers the opening and essentially prevents fluid flow through the opening and a second open position wherein the sealing member is spaced away from the opening to provide a fluid path between the sealing member and the inflatable cushion, each sealing member including a first inner portion of material, an outer member and a plurality of connecting members, the first inner portion of material configured to have an outer periphery larger than the opening it is covering, the outer member spaced from the first inner portion and secured to the inflatable cushion, the outer member surrounding the first inner portion and having an inner periphery larger than the outer periphery of the first inner portion, the plurality of connecting members each being spaced from each other and each having a portion connected to the outer member and the first inner portion to provide a plurality of vent openings through the sealing member; and 
 a connecting member secured to each of the pair of sealing members and the releasable retention device, the connecting member being configured to move the sealing members from the first sealing position towards the second open position when the inflatable cushion is inflated by the inflation gas and when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator.